News

Behavioral health campaign plan unveiledSpecial TV Town Hall welcomes feedback from community
Lt. Gen. Robert Cone, III Corps and Fort Hood commanding general, announced the formulation by post leaders and health experts of a behavioral health campaign plan addressing the psychological and emotional needs of the community during a special live broadcast Monday night.
During an hour-long live TV Town Hall, the general explained a plan aimed at helping community members to heal in the aftermath of the Nov. 5 shooting spree that left 13 dead and dozens more injured. The broadcast aired on Fort Hood Television, cable channel 10 on the installation, and off post on the local Public Broadcasting Service affiliate, KNCT-TV, from Central Texas College in Killeen.
“We call it a behavioral health campaign plan because we see it as a ...

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1st Air Cav, Iraqi army, conduct joint air assaultCAMP TAJI, Iraq – U.S. and Iraqi forces worked together in an air assault and patrol mission to check on the standard of living in a small village north of here, Nov. 12.
The 1st Air Cavalry Brigade has again seen its labors – training the Iraqi air force to fly their ground brethren in real missions – come to fruition.

Grey Wolf among first Cav troops returning to Ft HoodThe 1st Cavalry Division’s Rear Detachment hosted family reunions for more than 300 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Soldiers at the division headquarters, on Fort Hood.
The brigade’s first and second advanced parties’ flights arrived Nov. 10 and 13, to the applause and cheers of families in front of the division’s

20th Engineers honor fallenThe 20th Engineer Battalion honored those lost during the Nov. 5 shootings on Fort Hood during a memorial service at Palmer Theater Thursday.
Spc. Frederick Greene, Pfc. Michael Pearson, Pfc. Aaron Nemelka and Pfc. Kham Xiong were killed when a gunman opened fire in the post Soldier Readiness Processing Center. Greene, Pearson and Nemelka were all combat engineers in the same platoon in the 510th Clearance Company and Xiong was a mechanic with the Forward Support Company.

Once again Hood USO comes through in clutchIn peacetime and war, the Fort Hood United Service Organizations has been an integral part of the post. After the tragic events that befell the post recently, the mettle of the local chapter was tested and performed well, post leaders say.

Wagonmasters open new education center at Q-WestCONTINGENCY OPERATING LOCATION Q-WEST, Iraq – 15th Sustainment Brigade Wagonmasters officially re-opened the education center Nov. 5, after two weeks of cleanup and preparation.
The Q-West education center was previously opened with only limited use and was in a dirty state of disrepair.

Hood safety fair set for FridayThankfully, the winter months bring a decrease in the number of off duty injuries and fatalities for servicemembers due to a decrease in outdoor activities and traveling, among other things.
However, the message from III Corps leaders and Fort Hood safety officials remains the same, “Be careful. Manage the risks of any activity.”

Fort Hood deploys online personnel claims filingFort Hood Soldiers may now file personnel claims online with the Personnel Claims Army Information Management System – that’s PCLAIMS for short. PCLAIMS allows Soldiers and Army civilian employees to file personnel claims online rather than having to physically visit or mail documents to a military claims office.

First III Corps element heads downrangeThe first element of III Corps departed over the course of last week to pick up the intelligence mission from I Corps in Iraq.
The Analytical Control Element, which handles all major military intelligence operations for the Corps, arrives ahead of the main body to become familiar with their surroundings, Lt. Col. Marc Spinuzzi, chief, ACE, III Corps, said. “You’re sent first to get familiar with the environment so you can best advise our senior personnel,” he said, while addressing the first wave of deploying ACE troops on Thursday. “When we get on ground, we’ll rely on your familiarity with the environment.”

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Distracted drivers: Reducing text messaging behind the wheelCell phone use is the fastest growing and most visible distraction that leads to accidents. Because of the increase in traffic fatalities, President Barack Obama released an Executive Order Oct. 1 to federal leadership prohibiting text messaging while driving.

Job Fair today“Operation Austin,” a job fair sponsored by Austin Chamber of Commerce, will have more than 60 companies at Club Hood from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. today.
Austin chamber estimates companies in the Austin area currently have over 4,200 job vacancies.
A breakout panel session regarding entrepreneurship will also be held. Both Bunker Austin and Tech Ranch Austin will be hold presentations to interested veterans/Soldiers on available entrepreneurship opportunities in Austin; there will be a question and answer session as well. F7, a women-centered entrepreneurship group will also hold a focus group session.
Limited parking is available at Club Hood, but with most restricted to handicapped, Club Hood employees and job fair workers/exhibitors. Soldiers and other job seekers attending the job fair must park on 22nd and 23rd Streets between Old Battalion and Battalion Avenues (east of Division West Headquarters) or at Hood Stadium off Clear Creek behind the Exchange.
Free shuttle buses will transport job fair attendees to and from Club Hood. This event is open to the public, however, members of the community wishing to attend must obtain a separate vehicle pass for this event at the Visitor Welcome Center and then also use the designated parking areas for the shuttle bus transportation.

Road closureOld Georgetown Road will be closed to through traffic from Elijah Road to West Range Road, and the bridge closure itself is located near Royalty Ridge Road. All tanks trails along the roadway will remain open throughout the construction repairs. The road should be re-opened by the end of March.
All traffic from the North Fort Hood and the Gatesville area need to use West Range Road or FM 116 to Tank Destroyer Boulevard. The traffic from main cantonment should use Tank Destroyer Boulevard or East Range Road if they plan on going north through post.

Water conservation in effectDue to low water levels in Belton Lake, Bell County Water Control and Improvement District #1, has requested that their customers implement water conservation measures. As a result, Fort Hood is implementing Stage 1 of its Water Shortage Contingency Plan and will publish an operations order to that effect. The following water supply management measures will be required of all Soldiers, civilians and contractors who work or reside on Fort Hood:
• No watering of all types of landscaping between the hours of 11 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. No water runoff allowed from areas being watered.
• Minimize the use of water for irrigation of landscaping and vehicle washing, and do not waste potable water.
• No use of potable water to wash driveways, sidewalks, or buildings for general cleaning.
• Report all water leaks to Directorate of Public Works at 287-2113.
• Exceptions may be authorized by the Director of Public Works or Garrison commander for certain activities. The goal of Stage 1 is to reduce daily water usage by at least 5 percent. Stage 1 measures will remain in effect until the order is rescinded or additional conservation measures are implemented.
For more information, call DPW Environmental at 287-6499.

Fallen Warriors

STEPHEN RAY BROWN
1st Infantry Division
Spc. Stephen Ray Brown, 21, of Ottawa, Kan., died Nov. 14 in Greeley, Kan., from injuries suffered in an all-terrain vehicle accident while on leave. Brown, a patient administration specialist, entered the military in August 2007. He was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division (Rear Provisional) and had been assigned to Fort Hood since October 2007.
Brown deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from July 2008 to June 2009.
Brown’s awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and the NATO medal....

At a general court martial Nov. 3, Pvt. Paul Garcia, assigned to 2-3 ACR, was found guilty of being absent without leave in violation of Article 86 UCMJ and of two specifications of wrongful use of marijuana in violation of Article 112a, UCMJ. He was sentenced to reduction in grade to E-1, to be confined for eight months and to be discharged from the service with a bad conduct discharge.
At a general court martial Nov. 10, Pvt. Ryan Russell, assigned to 4th BCT, 1st Cav. Div., was found guilty of being absent without leave in violation of Article 86 UCMJ and wrongful use of cocaine in violation of Article 112a UCMJ. He was sentenced to reduction in grade to E-1, to forfeit $933 pay per month for two months, to be confined for seven days and to perform hard labor...